Gooderham earns come-from-behind win for Khalsa over West Bridgford

Khalsa fought back from a goal down to beat West Bridgford 2-1 on their return to action after a five-week mid-season break.

Challenging weather conditions had made it difficult for Khalsa to train over the festive break and a lapse in concentration saw them fall behind to a well-worked short corner.

The hosts were unfazed by the concession, with Jas Singh and Anit Chudasama causing trouble for the visiting defence and eventually forcing a short corner.

Aaron Nagra’s goalbound flick was stopped on the line by a defender’s body, earning Khalsa a penalty which was roofed by Gurminder Ghattaura.

Buoyed by their equaliser, Khalsa remained on the front foot and Amritpal Atwal was unlucky not to put the home side ahead with a point-blank effort which drew a superb save from the West Bridgford keeper.

Khalsa got their reward when a clever through ball from Jas Singh sent Stuart Gooderham through to round the keeper and flick into an empty net.

West Bridgford pressed for an equaliser but a change in formation enabled Jo Colantonio and Savhan Lall to combat their threat on the flanks.

They did come agonisingly close to drawing level before the break, however.

With Rider out of position, the Bridgford forward struck the ball towards to the goal only for a diving save from defender Scott Angliss to deny what seemed a certain score.

Khalsa showed more attacking threat after the interval, with Alex Idoine denied by a reflex save from the visiting keeper.

Another effort from Nagra was dealt with, while Jas Singh failed to find the target when well placed.

Superb defensive work from Ben Stephenson and Sean Robinson kept West Bridgford chances to a minimum, with Rider looking solid when called upon and pulling off a superb save with his foot after a shot was deflected.

Having withstood the West Bridgford pressure, Khalsa had the final opportunity of the match, but Idoine scuffed his shot and the chance was lost.

A Parvinder Singh Sangha strike ten mintes from time could not prevent Khalsa 3rds slipping to a 2-1 defeat at home to Worcester.

The visitors looked sharper throughout the first half and were deservedly 2-0 up before a much-improved second-half display was rewarded with a Sangha strike.